The journalists at Mother Jones magazine have put together an interesting interactive map of at least 9,000 chemical plants that house potentially dangerous toxins and flammable chemicals, including in Alabama and in nearby southern states.

The story details the potential risk that communities and the millions of American citizens who live in them face should these plants have a leak or fire.As I clicked across plant locations in Alabama I did not see one that has a history of accidents over the last five years. That's good news.But the story points out that there is much we do not know about in these plants due to security measures put in place after 9-11.It's an interesting look at a business that is important to the nation yet also one that poses risks.